Pedersen and Ko at Wednesday’s pre-tournament press conference.

By Kent Gray
After winning every piece of silverware on offer during last year’s LET double-header in the Kingdom, it was no surprise Emily Kristine Pedersen was the focus of the 2nd Saudi Ladies International preview media conference on Wednesday.

That said, it was impossible to ignore the insight from the circuits only Arabic player, Maha Haddioui, much less Kiwi superstar Lydia Ko.

The two-time major champion and former world No.1will make her Saudi Ladies International debut on Thursday and likes what she has seen of Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in the build-up to the $1 million event which runs until Saturday.

“The course is really nice,” said Ko, the 24-year-old former ANA Inspiration (2016) and Evian Championship (2015) winner.

“It has a good blend of tougher holes and some holes that are gettable. That afternoon wind is a huge factor around this golf course but at the same time it cools the temperature down, so I’m for the wind!”

Asked if playing in different parts of the world was beneficial to her own development, Ko said: “We go to many different countries, different continents and this is my first time in this part of the world. Obviously playing in the British Open is very different than playing in the US Open, for example, and playing in this part of the world is also different. I think you’re able to get used to the different climates, the different grass.

“I think as a player the more diverse you are the more able you are to compete and contend at different events – you don’t end up being a player who plays in only one type of tournament. It’s great that we get to go to all these different courses and learn different types of shots that I necessarily wouldn’t be used to playing.”

Pedersen, meanwhile, is thriving off “great” memories of her Saudi sweep last year.

The Dane bagged a clean sweep with victory in the inaugural $1million Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund in 2020, and then both the team and individual elements in what was then the Saudi Ladies Team International – the precursor to the LET’s new Aramco Team Series.

Emily Kristine Pedersen.

“It feels great to be back. I have a lot of good memories from here. As I’m walking the course there’s constantly good shots that I remember from last year, so it’s great. It’s nice too to stay in the same place for two weeks, especially if you like the course – and I like it here,” said the 25-year-old.

Asked how her mindset differs between the two back-to-back events – one where the focus is as an individual, then the latter as a team format – Pedersen said: “It changes a little bit because obviously you’re in a team and you are cheering a little bit more for other players to do well than you normally do, but at the end of the day I feel like it comes down to how you play yourself.

“I’m just trying to do the best that I can every week – both in the individual and the team event – and hopefully that’s good enough to contribute to the team’s score.”

Pedersen and Ko will face stiff competition in an Aramco Saudi Ladies International field that includes major champions Minjee Lee (AUS), Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Georgia Hall (ENG) and Dame Laura Davies (ENG), plus the likes of Charley Hull (ENG), new Dubai Moonlight Clasic champion Bronte Law (ENG) and Carlota Ciganda (ESP).

The Aramco Team Series – Jeddah follows the Saudi International from Nov. 10-12.